Coach Carl Forster has labelled Whitehaven's Ike Southward Memorial Trophy clash with Workington Town on Sunday a must-win game.

Even though, it is a pre-season game, Forster is desperate to turn things round after three successive defeats.

Saturday’s 46-16 defeat at Newcastle Thunder particularly rankled the Whitehaven coach as it was the opposition’s first work-out.

Forster was so dismayed by what he saw, he has offered any travelling fans who want to can have their money back.

“It was far from good enough and I feel so strongly about it I think the supporters should have their entrance fee back if they want to," he said.

“If any of them feel that way, they just have to see me and the money will be given to them."

Whitehaven have shipped over 120 points in three warm-up matches and clearly that’s where the biggest problems are.

“Some of our tackling has been very poor and we have to spend more time working on our defence," said Forster.

"We will be looking at the video of the Newcastle game and going through the faults in training."

Whitehaven will be defending the Ike Southward silverware when they take-on Town at Derwent Park.

“The way we have been performing in matches so far I believe that Sunday is a must-win game for us," said the coach.

“We badly need a victory to get us going because the performances and results have not matched-up to what the players showed in pre-season training."

Opponents Workington have lost both their opening games but earned praise for their efforts in going down narrowly to Super League Academy sides.

Sunday’s clash at Derwent Park will wrap-up pre-season preparations for both sides and the next time they meet will be a fortnight later in the League One Cup, only this time at the Recreation Ground.